Caster-wheel brake



Oct. 29, 1929. U u 1,733,536 4 CASTER WHEEL BRAKE filed Jan. 31. 1928 INVENTOR. @nm a BY ,2/- /e aawff m ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 29, 1929 unirsnsrArss SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A coRronA'rron FcAL'I O N'IA CASTER-WHEEL BRAKE This invention relates to caster wheel structures and particularly pertains to a brake structure therefor.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a generally improved brake structure for caster wheels, which brake structure is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and capable of operation to effectively prevent rotation of the wheel relative to its fork. I

In carrying out the invention into practice, the fork of the caster wheel structure is fitted with a cam which may be revolved by means of a lever to engage the periphery of the wheel and to hold it against rotation relative to the fork. This cam is adjustable relative to the wheel andis fitted with latching means to latchit either in braking or non-braking position.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a caster wheel embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the easter wheel with parts in section.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the wheel with parts broken away and in section to more clearly disclose its construction.

Fig. 4 is a plan view with the latch mechanism in section.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, indicates a caster wheel assembly including a fork 11 which embraces a wheel 12. This wheel 12 is mounted on an axle 1 1 extending laterally between the.

lower ends of the, legs 15 of the fork. The fork 11 is fitted at its upper end with a spindle 16 or other suitable device for mounting the caster on a vehicle in connection with which casters are employed.

The present application is particularly concerned with a brake mechanismto prevent rotation of the wheel relative to the fork and thus effectively arrest movement of the vehicle upon which the caster is mounted. This brake mechanism comprises a pear-shaped cam 17 disposed intermediate the legs 15 of the fork abovethe Wheel and parallel to the i rA reu 'forf-me,

AN RE GUITSCHULA, or OAKLAND, oAmronnIA ssmnon ronAmns coMrAn or peripheralsurface of the wheel. This cam 1 17 is secured on a shaft 18 extending between.

the legs 15 of thefork. The 'shaft 18 is .PIVOfZLlly mounted in openings in the legs 15 of'the fork, sothat the cammay be re- I volved.

To operate the having side portions 20 which are connected by end portions 21." The spacing between the side portions i2O1 issuch that the lev'er'embraces the fork 11 with theside portions 20 f lying parallel to andcontiguous totheexterior surface of the legs 1 Toconnectthe cam ll'tO the lever thev tions 20 of the lever 19. one end the shaft 18 is fittedwith a head'22. The other end of the shaft isthreaded through a tapped openng in the lever19, and is fitted with a clamp-1 mg nut and'washer 23. Therefore, to adjust the cam relative to the wheel, it is only nec- I -essary to loosen the nut 23 i and turn the 7 the lever 19. I

, It is obvious from the foregoingthat by osca1n,'I provide a lever 19 i I cum shaft 18 extends through the sideporsuch turning movement of the shaft. 1 After the propenadJustment has been obtainedthe nut 23 is tightened to clamp the shaft 18. to

.cillating the lever 19, the high point of the i cam 17 will be thrown into or out ofengagement with the peripheral surface of the Wheel. When the cam engages. the wheel, the latter will be elfectivelyheldfrom turning movement relative to the fork.

I To latch the cam ineither braking or non- I braking positiomI provide a latching mechanismwhieh comprises a flat spring clip 24; secured at one end to one of the side members 20 ofthe lever 19. Underlying the other end of thisspring clip 24 is an opening through the side member 20 of the lever 19 in which aball 25 isdisposed. The spring'clip constantly tends to project this ball through the opening so that it will, engagethe exterior surface of the continguousleg of thefork.

In this exterior surface of the leg of the fork is formed two sockets 26 and 27. These ber carried by the lever engageable Withsaid sockets are a spaced distance apart and are sockets, and spring means constantly tending so located that when the ball 25 is engaged to with the socket 26, the cam 17 will be out of engagement with the wheel, and when the ball is inengagement with thesocket 27, the cam will be held in'engagementwith the wheel. As the ball 25 is spring-pressed into these sockets 26and 27, the cam will be yieldably "latched in either position'desired and may be moved from one position tothe other by operating the lever 19.

In operation of the device, it is constructed and assembled as shown in the drawings and the cam 17 is adjusted relative to the pe riphery of the wheel by loosening the nut 23 and revolvingthe shaft 18 upon which the .ocamais secured. When properly adjusted, the

nut 23 istightened securing the shaft and its cam to the lever 19. The cam will then be held rigid relative to the lever 19 but will be rotatively supported by the fork of the caster.

1 To move=the cam into braking position, the

lever 19 is actuated in a direction tending to throw the high. point of the cam 111 60. contact :with the peripheral surface of the wheel.

When in thisposition, the ball 25 will .snap into the socket 27 andlatchthe cam in braking position and the wheel will be effectively held against rotary-movement relative tothe .fork.

To release the brake, aforce is exerted on the lever 19sufficient todisengage the ball 25 from the socket 27 and to move the lever to a position where the ball will engage the socket 26. In this'position, the cam will be disengagedfrom .the wheel and the latter will be free to revolve.

From the foregoingit is obvious-that I have 7 provided a very simple and inexpensive brake for caster wheels which will be positive in operation, inexpensive to manufacture and wherein the braking element will be yieldably held in either braking or non-braking position.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it isto be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing froin'the spirit of the 111V8I1t1011,'2lS defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1s: 1

' A caster structure including a fork, a wheel embraced thereby, a cam rotatably supported between the legs of the fork in a position whereby its high point may engage the periphery of the wheel, a lever relatively fixed to the cam, means for adjusting the cam relative to the lever, and means for yieldably reta1n1ng said cam in either braking or non-braking position, said means compriS- J ing sockets formed inth'e fork, a latch mempress said latch member into the sockets.

ANDRE GUITSCHULA. 

